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Mattresses and Bed Bugs

Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs

What are bed bugs?

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a small, nocturnal insect which feeds on blood and causing itchy bites on humans. Although bed bugs are most prosperous feed on humans, they can also feed on animals such as birds and mice. Bed bugs tend to be most active at night and prefer to feed on sleeping humans.

What do bed bugs look like?

Bed bugs are reddish or brown in color, with a flat, oval shape body and an adult may grow to be the size of 4-7mm (about the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny). Young bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color.

An adult bed bug after feeding.

A baby bed bug feeding on a human.

Where do bed bugs come from?

Bed bugs can come from a variety of locations. Most commonly, they are transported to people’s homes via clothing and/or luggage from hotels, motels and resorts, as well as many other high traffic sources including movie theaters, apartments, dormitories, parks and cabins. Bed bugs are very successful hitchhikers, moving from an infested site to bedding, baggage, boxes, and clothing with ease.

Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten days, bed bugs are very resilient and are capable of surviving over a year without feeding. Bites from bed bugs can be painless, but may become itchy later and can look like small reddish welts.

They do not have nests, but tend to live in hiding places that provide them easier access to people that they can feed from. Common hiding places in the home can be in mattresses, box springs, headboards, nightstands, baseboards and even in cracks in walls.

Can bed bugs transmit disease?

Bed bugs have not been found to transmit any human diseases.

How can you tell if you have bed bugs?

While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they generally only appear in dark conditions. You can spot a possible bed bug infestation by looking for the following indicators:

Dark spots which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would

Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and white

Skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger

Live bed bugs

Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed

Bed bugs on a mattress.

How can I protect my mattress?

Consider encasing both the mattress and box spring in a protective cover like those used for allergy relief to eliminate access to your mattress by bed bugs. Mattress encasements will seal the mattress and box spring, keeping bugs in the mattress trapped (where they will eventually die) while also keeping new bugs out.

While an encasement will not keep bed bugs from crawling onto a bed and biting a person, it will be easier to spot and destroy any bugs residing on the outer surface during examination. Without an encasement, once a mattress becomes infested, you should consider replacing it since treating your bed and pillows with pesticides can be harmful.

Can I get bed bugs from a new mattress?

New mattresses are placed in a tightly sealed mattress bag immediately after being manufactured, creating an inhospitable environment for any living organism. New mattresses are not removed from this bag until they have reached the customer's home.

What can I do to help prevent beg bug infestation?

Here are a few simple precautions that can help prevent bed bug infestation in your home:

Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation.

Use a protective cover to encase your mattress and box spring and eliminate a favored hiding place.

Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.

When traveling:

In hotel rooms, use luggage racks to hold your luggage when packing or unpacking rather than setting your luggage on the bed or floor.

Check the mattress and headboard for signs of bed bug infestation before settling in.